A dangerous chemical found at a girls' school in Sutton, Dublin has been successfully removed from the premises by a bomb disposal team.

The unit took the substance from the science laboratories of Santa Sabina secondary school and blew up its container as part of a controlled explosion on a nearby beach.

Dinitrophenylhydrazine - a chemical that is better known as Brady's reagent and is highly explosive when dry - was discovered at the school by teachers conducting an audit of the science labs.

Speaking to the Herald, a defence forces spokesman said: "The substance can become unstable as it decomposes and dries out and then becomes sensitive to shock such as being dropped or banged."

He explained the procedure for dealing with such a scenario usually involves the chemical compound being placed in a hole - which is then covered with sandbags - in an open green area before the charge is detonated.

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